Kojin had indeed grown somewhat arrogant, and he had the right to be.
As far back as eleven years ago, he already possessed the strength to fight a legendary Great Pirate, and afterward, he boldly stood against the World Government.
His immense power had even forced the World Government to compromise at one point.
Over the following decade, he subdued numerous powerful figures. Among his subordinates were three Admiral-level powerhouses, and he established experimental bases, a Marine academy, and more.
The entire Marine force of West Blue had become his domain. Though he had not yet interfered in politics, it was only a matter of time.
When that day came, the whole of West Blue would become his private kingdom.
Tell me… who in the world had ever reached such a level?
Pirate King Roger?
At best, he was just an adventurous sailor who excelled at navigation and reached a final island.
Golden Lion Shiki?
Nothing more than an ambitious failure, lacking wisdom, lacking true strength, knowing only destruction and brute force.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate?
If you really think about it, he was merely a kind old father guarding his little "family," protecting his many adopted sons. He had even embraced a traitorous son after being stabbed during the Summit War, trying to move him with virtue.
It carried the same absurd tone as those pyramid schemes that say, "Even if you betray me, I'll still give you 10 million."
For a moment, as the Gates of Justice drew closer, Kojin stood atop his golden staff, reflecting on the past decade. He felt almost weightless with pride.
Without even realizing it, he had become this formidable.
Unfortunately, Eveya was not with him on this journey. Before departing, he had sent her to East Blue on a mysterious mission.
So this sense of accomplishment could not be shared with anyone.
A few days earlier, Sengoku had personally contacted him, speaking in firm terms about matters concerning him.
The position of the next Fleet Admiral was essentially Sengoku's already. The problem now was that the World Government had begun stirring trouble behind the scenes.
Within Marine Headquarters, a group of veteran Vice Admirals had suddenly stepped forward to oppose Sengoku.
Because of this, Sengoku's appointment had stalled.
At his side, Garp remained indifferent, Zephyr kept silent, and only Vice Admiral Tsuru thought of Kojin and reached out to him.
Although more than ten years had passed since Roger's execution, Kojin still held tremendous prestige among the older generation at Headquarters.
Among the current backbone of the Marines, his reputation was even greater.
The young officers who had once admired him had grown up over the past decade and now held key positions throughout the Marines.
Compared to the older generation, it was the younger one that truly formed the backbone of the Marines, and they were the ones Sengoku needed to win over.
"Once I take office, there will be a complete reshuffle within the Marines!"
Even through the Den Den Mushi, Kojin could hear the cold fury in Sengoku's voice.
"This generation will surpass all previous ones!"
"Borsalino, codename Kizaru.
Kuzan, codename Aokiji.
Sakazuki, codename Akainu."
"And with you added in, there will be four Admirals!"
At this point, Sengoku's voice grew excited.
Four Admiral-level powerhouses would be enough to suppress this increasingly chaotic era.
Especially this year, the second half of the Grand Line had begun to be called the "New World," and powerful rulers were already starting to emerge.
It could be said that this raging era was even more chaotic and more insane than Roger's time.
At the very least, the number of pirates was on an entirely different scale.
The brief conversation caused Kojin to narrow his eyes slightly.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Sengoku to be so bold as to list him as a candidate for the next Admiral. Even though both his strength and reputation were sufficient, the pressure from the World Government was equally immense.
Naturally, the details would need to be discussed further at Headquarters.
The battleship slowly sailed through the Gates of Justice.
"Which Vice Admiral is that?"
On the city wall, a Marine lieutenant commander peered through binoculars, staring at the rank insignia on Kojin's shoulder in confusion.
"Who knows?"
"With the Fleet Admiral transition approaching, officers from all over the world have been gathering at Headquarters lately."
"This is a major event for the Marines; the final result will shock the entire world!"
"Indeed, unprecedented!"
Looking at the battleship with a golden staff embedded at its prow, the unfamiliar young officers chatted among themselves in awe.
Ten years was a long time, especially for the rapidly changing Marines.
Many of the younger generation had already forgotten Kojin.
"A familiar… yet unfamiliar place." Gazing at the shimmering inner bay ahead, Kojin murmured softly.
Naturally, he had heard the conversations on the city wall.
Moments later, the battleship docked at the harbor. Shinbu, who once greeted him, was no longer here. Instead, a tall Marine colonel with golden hair and purple sunglasses was waiting to receive him.
"May I ask how to address this Vice Admiral, sir?" The blond colonel spoke politely.
"Kojin." Kojin replied with a smile.
"Vice Admiral Kojin, please proceed to the Headquarters building to attend the meeting. You've arrived just in time, the meeting only started not long ago." The blond colonel said with a smile.
Clearly, even after hearing the name "Kojin," he still hadn't recognized him.
Kojin nodded without saying much and headed straight toward the Headquarters building.
The walk was calm and uneventful. No one took the initiative to greet him. Most Marines simply noticed the Vice Admiral rank on his shoulder and offered polite salutations.
"Things have changed, and so have people." Kojin felt a faint sense of disorientation.
He vaguely recalled how, more than ten years ago, every time he returned to Headquarters, the young Marines would look at him with admiration and excitement. Some female officers would even become so thrilled by a single smile or sentence from him that they were on the verge of fainting.
Yet in just ten years, everything had changed so drastically.
The younger generation in Headquarters no longer even recognized him.
He walked all the way to the building, stepping onto the familiar stairs and moving forward. On both sides stood elite Marines, their expressions stern, eyes fixed straight ahead as always.
Walking alone, Kojin suddenly felt a sense of calm settle over him.
As he entered the Headquarters building, a middle-aged female officer approached.
"Vice Admiral, are you here to attend the Headquarters meeting?" Her habitual smile and tone prompted Kojin to nod.
"May I ask your name?" She asked politely.
Naturally, this was part of her duty, every attending officer had to be logged.
"Kojin." Kojin replied.
"Kojin?!" The female officer repeated the name. Then, as if struck by lightning, her whole body froze for a moment, and her steps abruptly halted.
She suddenly turned around, staring at the tall figure behind her.
When she saw his short black hair and his strong, imposing physique, she began trembling uncontrollably.
"Ko…. Vice Admiral Kojin!!!"
"It's actually you!!"
Her voice rose sharply in excitement, causing nearby officers to look over.
"You know me?" Kojin asked with a smile.
"O-of course! When you graduated, I was the one who handled your departure paperwork!"
As she spoke, a blush appeared on her face.
"You?" Kojin remembered.
He quickly connected this middle-aged woman with the female officer who had slipped him a note back then.
Ten years had passed, and she had aged and put on some weight.
"I never expected you to come to this meeting!" The female officer said excitedly.
Seeing the person she once admired again made her visibly thrilled.
"With the Fleet Admiral transition, it's only natural for me to come." Kojin replied with a smile.
"After all these years, you haven't changed at all, you're still so handsome and imposing! Even your abs…" As she spoke, she absentmindedly reached out toward Kojin's abdomen.
Kojin stepped back, avoiding her touch.
"My apologies, that was inappropriate! I'm already married, and I have a son and a daughter, so you don't need to worry, Vice Admiral Kojin!" She said, somewhat dejected.
Kojin maintained a polite smile.
"I'll guide you there!"
Seeing his reaction, the female officer chuckled softly and turned around.
"Who do you think will become the new Marine Fleet Admiral?"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has a very high approval rate, but Vice Admiral Jabbaer shouldn't be underestimated either."
Kojin narrowed his eyes slightly. "Jabbaer?"
He had never heard of this Vice Admiral.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Jabbaer was transferred from the Army a few years ago. I've heard he has strong connections within the World Government." The female officer explained.
"No wonder I haven't heard of him." Kojin nodded.
"Even though Vice Admiral Jabbaer is a rising force, I still support Admiral Sengoku!" She added.
Kojin didn't say much.
As he listened to her chatter along the way, he picked up some information about recent developments at Headquarters. The struggle between Sengoku and Jabbaer over the Fleet Admiral position had caused quite a stir within Headquarters.
It was clear that, in a sense, Jabbaer's emergence was entirely because of Kojin. Most likely, he was a pawn pushed forward by the World Government.
Yet the forces backing him were strangely able to balance Sengoku, preventing the latter from officially taking office.
"Heh. This is starting to get interesting." With his perception spreading outward, Kojin quickly sensed the nearby meeting room.
At this moment, the atmosphere inside was tense. Kong frowned as he looked at the Vice Admirals on both sides. On the left stood Sengoku and his supporters. On the right was Jabbaer, a 62-year-old man with a square face and rough stubble.
"Jabbaer is the most suitable candidate for the next Fleet Admiral!"
"That's right, I support Vice Admiral Jabbaer!"
"He has Admiral-level strength and is more loyal to the Marines!"
The argument quickly erupted.
"Admiral Sengoku is the true choice! What right do you outsiders, transferred from elsewhere, have to interfere?"
"Go back to your Army! You have no place speaking here in the Marines!"
"Don't think we can't see your disgusting intentions!"
In an instant, the meeting room became heated, with both sides on the verge of coming to blows.
Kong's frown deepened.
At that moment, the doors of the meeting room were suddenly flung open, and a figure appeared.
"What Jabbaer? Get lost already!"
"The position of Fleet Admiral belongs to Admiral Sengoku, no one else!"
A cold voice echoed throughout the room, instantly silencing the heated argument.
(End of Chapter)
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